UditVani,Jamshedpur: XLRI successfully hosted the sixth edition of ClockSpeed, its flagship Operations and Supply Chain Conclave, bringing together leading industry practitioners and academicians to examine the evolving landscape of modern supply chains.
The conclave was inaugurated by Dr. (Fr.) George Sebastian, S.J., Director, XLRI, in the presence of senior faculty members including Prof. A. Kanagaraj, Prof. Sunil Sarangi, Prof. J. Ajith Kumar, and Prof. Debashish Pradhan.
The ceremony began with the traditional lamp lighting, setting the tone for a day of insightful deliberations.
Addressing the gathering, Fr. George Sebastian underscored the importance of strong industry–academia collaboration, noting that both students and leaders benefit from real-world insights.
He commended the organizing team for selecting a theme that addresses one of today’s most pressing corporate challenges—balancing agility, sustainability, and technology.
Prof. J. Ajith Kumar highlighted the growing strategic importance of supply chains, citing global disruptions—from the Ever Given incident to ongoing geopolitical challenges—as reminders of the need for resilience.
He emphasized that future-ready supply chains must combine agility, sustainability, and technological advancement. Prof. Sunil Sarangi echoed these sentiments, referencing the Agile Manifesto and the Theory of Constraints to stress adaptability and responsible innovation in an increasingly complex world.
This year’s theme, “Synchronized Horizons: Integrating Agility, Sustainability, and Tech,” reflected the rising demand for resilient, technology-driven, and environmentally responsible supply chain ecosystems.
The conclave featured two engaging panel discussions with distinguished industry leaders.
The first panel, “Smart Supply Chain – Emerging Tech in Logistics & Order Fulfilment,” brought together experts from Cognizant, Tata Steel, Century Plyboards (India) Limited, West Pharmaceutical Services, and Hindustan Platinum.
The second panel, “Strategic Green Engine – Driving P&L Growth through Circularity,” featured leaders from Tata Steel, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, CGI, Cummins Inc., and Delhivery. Panelists explored how sustainability has evolved into a core business driver, emphasizing circular economy practices, reverse logistics, and investments in innovations such as green hydrogen, electric arc furnaces, and battery-electric transport solutions.
ClockSpeed 6.0 served as a dynamic platform for meaningful engagement between industry experts and students, offering valuable insights into contemporary challenges and opportunities in operations and supply chain management.
The event was coordinated by Himanshu Shekhar, Senior Manager – Corporate Relations and Placements at XLRI, with active support from the PGDM (GM) Placement Committee, whose efforts ensured its seamless execution.
Through initiatives like ClockSpeed, XLRI continues to strengthen industry–academia collaboration and nurture future leaders equipped to navigate the complexities of modern supply chain ecosystems.
